Reince Priebus replaces Michael Steele as GOP chairman

The Republican National Committee selected Reince Priebus as its new chairman, replacing Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland. Steele's two-year tenure was marked by high spending, financial debt and verbal gaffes. Priebus won late Friday afternoon after seven rounds of balloting. He received 97 votes out 168 ballots cast.

Steele, the party's first African-American chairman, sought a second term, but conceded midafternoon. "I think the party is ready for something different," Steele said.

Priebus is the Wisconsin GOP chairman and a former general counsel for the RNC.

UPDATE: 4:50 p.m.

After six rounds of voting, Reince Priebus inched closer to becoming the next chairman of the Republican National Committee. Priebus, the Wisconsin GOP chairman, received 80 votes, five short to win the post. Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman, is now second with 37 votes. Maria Cino, endorsed by the outgoing Chairman Michael Steele, is third with 34 votes, while Ann Wagner, a former RNC co-chairwoman, has 17 votes.

The seventh round of voting is expected to begin in a few minutes.

UPDATE: 4:20 p.m.

With Michael Steele dropping out, the race for the Republican National Committee chairmanship is turning into a two-person race. After five rounds of voting, Reince Priebus, the Wisconsin GOP chairman, remains the top vote-getter with 67 votes. Maria Cino, a former Bush administration official, has emerged as the top contender with 40 votes. Voting continues as 85 votes are needed.

UPDATE: 3:54 p.m.

Michael Steele steps aside as chairman of the Republican National Committee. "I think the party is ready for something different," he said. He asked his supporters to vote for Maria Cino, a former Bush administration official who has the support of House Speaker John Boehner.

UPDATE: 3:42 p.m.

Michael Steele fell further behind in his effort to remain chairman of the Republican National Committee. After four rounds of voting, Reince Priebus remained the top vote-getter with 58 votes. Mario Cino was second with 29 votes, while Steele fell to third with 28 votes, tied with Ann Wagner. Saul Anuzis received 24 votes and a write-in candidate received one vote, which was ruled invalid.

Voting continues as 85 votes are needed to win the post.

UPDATE: 3:10 p.m.

It appears the race for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee will take several ballots. After three rounds of balloting among 168 members, Reince Priebus maintains a lead over Chairman Michael Steele and three other candidates. The vote tally after three rounds: Priebus, 54 votes; Steele, 33 votes; Wagner, 32 votes; Cino, 28 votes and Anuzis, 21 votes.

Eighty five votes are needed to win the post.

UPDATE: 2:27 p.m.

In a second round of voting, Reince Priebus' lead in the race for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee grew slighty. Priebus, the Wisconsin GOP chairman, received 52 votes, while Chairman Michael Steele received 37 votes in an effort to hold onto his post.

Voting will continue as 85 votes are needed to win.

Mario Cino, a former Bush administration official who had the support of House Speaker John Boehner, was third with 30 votes; Ann Wagner, a former RNC co-chairwoman, received 27 votes; while Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman; garnered 22 votes.

UPDATE: 1:46 p.m.

Reince Priebus holds a one-vote lead over Chairman Michael Steele in the race to led the Republican National Committee. Priebus, the Wisconsin GOP chairman, was the top vote-getter Friday with 45 votes out of 168 ballots, but a candidate needs 85 votes to win the office. Steele, fighting to keep his post, is second with 44 votes. Mario Cino, a former Bush administration official who had the support of House Speaker John Boehner, was third with 32 votes; Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman; garnered 24 votes; while Ann Wagner, a former RNC co-chairwoman, received 23 votes.

Voting continues this afternoon.

The original post:

The Republican National Committee today will select a new chairman to shepherd the party as it tries to win back the White House and expand its ranks in Congress and among governors.

Reince Priebus, the Wisconsin GOP chairman, has emerged as the front-runner to replace Michael Steele, whose tenure has been marked by high spending, financial debt and verbal gaffes.

The RNC will play a crucial role in the 2012 presidential election, using its resources to help get out the vote and to complement the campaign of the party's standard-bearer against President Obama.

Steele, a former Maryland lieutenant governor, made a surprise decision to run for a second term. While acknowledging his mistakes, Steele emphasized at a recent debate that "we won" in November and pointed to the GOP takeover of the House, victories in 10 governorships including key states such as Ohio, and wins in six Senate seats.

Even though the party took in more than $80 million before the November elections, it had to take out a $15 million loan. A debt payment of $5 million is due next month, according to the Associated Press.

A high-profile chairman who traveled a lot and made frequent TV appearances, Steele was criticized for some of his remarks, such as saying Afghanistan was a "war of Obama's choosing."

Going into Friday's election, whip counts by National Journal's Hotline, The Washington Post and Politico showed Priebus had the broadest support of the committee's 168 members. On Thursday, Priebus picked up the endorsement of former White House chief of staff John Sununu, who will soon retire as New Hampshire GOP chairman.

Priebus, the RNC's former general counsel, played up his fundraising prowess and ballot box success in usually blue Wisconsin, which voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election and Democrat John Kerry in 2004.

In 2010, Republicans won majorities in both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature and also won the governor's race. The GOP now has 5-3 advantage in the state's congressional delegation.

Maria Cino, a former Bush administration official who had the support of House Speaker John Boehner; Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman; and Ann Wagner, a former RNC co-chairwoman, are also running for the job.

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About Catalina Camia

Catalina Camia leads the OnPolitics online community and has been at USA TODAY since 2005. She has been a reporter or editor covering politics and Congress for two decades, including stints at The Dallas Morning News and Congressional Quarterly. Follow her at @USATOnPolitics.